Inter Miami extended their winning streak with two goals from Lionel Messi in the League Cup match against Atlanta United on Wednesday, as the David Beckham-owned club defeated their opponents 4-0 at the DRV PNK Stadium in Florida.
Head coach Tata Martino gave Messi his first Miami start on Wednesday and he scored the game’s first goal in just 8 minutes.
After spotting Messi’s darting run, Sergio Busquets delivered the ball to his former Barcelona teammate, who calmly collected the ball and took a shot towards the goal that hit the post. But, with outstanding accuracy, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner placed the rebound into the net.
Busquets 🤝 Messi
Messi puts us in the lead early with his second goal for the Club 👏👏#MIAvATL | 1-0 | 📺#MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/JZtEpe9Hfa pic.twitter.com/GKujBMsW1V
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 25, 2023
In the 22nd minute of the game, the Argentine increased his team’s lead by putting the finishing touches on the ball from the left flank from Robert Taylor.
Taylor ➡️ Messi for his second of the night to double the lead in the 22nd minute 👏#MIAvATL | 2-0 pic.twitter.com/bVvzkLJdDA
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023
Taylor scored in the 44th minute with a lashing finish into the right side of the net as he hit wonderfully on the volley inside the box to give Miami a three-goal lead at the half for the first time in the nascent history of the club.
ROBERT TAYLOR BANGER 🚨
Cremaschi with the flick on to Taylor to give us a three goal lead in the 44th minute🤯#MIAvATL | 3-0 pic.twitter.com/8T4ttw5vaY
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023
Taylor scored his second goal of the game in the 53rd minute, following Messi’s pass into the path of the 28-year-old Finnish player.
Taylor bags a brace 2️⃣
Messi sets up Taylor for our FOURTH of the night 👏#MIAvATL | 4-0 pic.twitter.com/ssG8CyqXWu
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 26, 2023
Miami advanced to the Leagues Cup round of 32 with their second win in as many group-stage games, after a 2-1 victory against Cruz Azul earlier in the week.